The Power of Micro-Affirmations in the Classroom
You may have heard of micro-aggressions, only what are micro-affirmations?
These small, welcoming acts accentuate the positive, provide encouragement, and foster healthy relationships. Fifty-fifty the smallest interactions can have a Big impact on classroom civilisation, and we all desire to build a classroom environment where educatee expression, participation, and achievement are the main goals of the school twenty-four hours.
Micro-affirmations create an environment where students feel comfortable sharing ideas, know that they are valued, and are excited to contribute. These small acts focus on teaching to the whole child—not merely providing what is needed academically just also meeting their social and emotional needs.
When teachers utilize micro-affirmations, they are modeling how to treat their peers' feelings. Allophilia, as coined by Todd Pittinsky, is accepting and loving others who are not like you. Rejecting prejudice and, instead, developing a classroom where differences are celebrated and everyone's contributions are valued tin can increase educatee achievement. What'southward great is, once established every bit the norm, micro-affirmations don't take upwardly any extra time or accept much, if any, extra work.
How can I implement micro-affirmations in the classroom?
There are countless ways to embed micro-affirmations into classroom culture. Here are simply a few examples of the micro-affirmations that we have integrated into our everyday classroom routines:
Greetings
Greet your students at the door every morning and intentionally create opportunities for students to greet each other daily. When a student is absent, be certain to indicate out that y'all noticed their absence and missed them.
Encouragement
Students can lead quick encouraging and supportive chants for their peers each time a student is speaking or presenting. Attempt having students say, "You got this (name)!" or "Stone it (proper noun)!" This practise likewise provides congenital-in wait time for those students who need it.
Inclusive Language
Instead of talking virtually parents, endeavor using the term families. Also, refer to the class as your school family. Instead of saying "my" classroom and "my" supplies, attempt maxim "our" classroom and "our" supplies to promote inclusion as well student ownership of their classroom and learning environment.
[Meet 50 means to be more inclusive in your didactics hither.]
Names
Refer to students by name and make sure to pronounce them correctly! Encourage students to use their peers' name within classroom discussions. To take it a step farther, try coming up with fun nicknames like Brian the Brain or Lenny Spaghetti.
Compliments
Positivity is contagious. Receiving a compliment makes a person more likely to give a compliment in render. Complimenting a student can, in turn, lead to students complimenting or congratulating each other without being prompted. Try to go along the compliments focused on growth. For example, instead of saying "y'all're smart," try saying "thank you for never giving up," or "I love how you lot are ever prepared for class."
[See "Why I leave positive Post-Its for my students every morning time."]
Equity
Calling on the same students all the time is easy to do mistakenly. Go on in mind students notice. Come upwardly with a way to ensure you are asking students to contribute every bit. Popsicle sticks with names on them or an online random proper name picker (try classtools.net/random-name-picker) are only a few options. This will also increase pupil participation. However, nosotros recommend assuasive the "phone a friend" option or giving students a choice so they don't feel put on the spot or cornered.
Share the Positive
When a educatee meets a goal, shows growth, displays a favorable character trait, or even only has a slap-up solar day in general, share the positive! Whether a celebratory note or telephone call home, recognizing them in front of their peers, or posting a pasty-note complimenting them on the Shout Out Wall, it can really make a deviation in students' confidence and feelings of belonging.
Hither's a await at some of the ways we incorporate these strategies into our teaching:
How can students employ micro-affirmations?
When a student is sharing their piece of work or ideas, their peers can show respect by sitting up direct, making eye-contact, and nodding when spoken to directly. These small-scale gestures build respect and rapport between peers. Students can likewise make upward their ain nicknames, give each other compliments, and pb the supportive chants to encourage their peers after they take been modeled. We reward students for treating each other with respect, showing compassion, and encouraging others. It'southward peachy to lookout students' begin to see others success as their own and the grade as a family unit unit.
These are just a few of the plethora of ways teachers can accentuate the positive and encourage students to do the same. Getting to know your students and building positive relationships volition practise wonders for student growth and classroom civilization. Ask yourself: In what pocket-size ways tin I promote positivity and overcome my own personal bias' to ensure all students feel respected, valued and included in my classroom every unmarried 24-hour interval?
We'd love to hear—how practice you employ micro-affirmations in the classroom? Come and share in our WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.
Source: https://www.weareteachers.com/micro-affirmations-in-the-classroom/
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